Anticipation (winds of Change)

A recurring discussion here in Mexico is the weather. Everybody is tired of the heat and humidity caused by the warm ocean water (78 degrees). What has some of us excited is that for the next few days the temperature is supposed to be 80 degrees or cooler and drop into the 50's at night. Wow, I can't wait.
Our VBS this week is taken from the last chapter in Max Lucado's book "Experiencing the Heart of Jesus." We have the honor to discuss the Hope of Jesus and his return. Tonight the focus was on waiting forwardly with patience for Jesus to break through the clouds and take us home with Him. I related how when i was a little boy I could hardly stand to wait for Christmas. And as the days drew closer and closer I grew more and more excited. When the day finally came the hopes I had were realized...mostly. I did not always get what I hoped for even though what I received was enjoyed. That is where the analogy breaks down. When Jesus comes we will not be in the least disappointed. He will exceed all our hopes and dreams as he takes us home.
Do you feel the winds of change a blowin'? Maybe it is not just the weather that is breaking but Jesus himself coming to take us home.

Romans 8:25 (NIV) But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

Experiencing the Hope of Jesus

The weather was warm today at the City of Children and a little humid, but not like back home. After the worship service this morning in which Tom Byrd led three songs in English and Reuben Haught led us in prayer we were treated to an authentic Mexican lunch. As always it was wonderful. However, our Betty is doing a great job in the kitchen too. Patty, the director’s wife and Sylvia, both of the City of Children came in to the kitchen tonight and said they heard that the evening meal was very good and wanted to try some. They both liked the hamburger pie so Betty gets kudos for her creativity. Tonight we started the first of our classes on the Hope of Jesus. The statue of Jesus in this message is on top of a hill on the way to Ensenada and represents the hope we have in him. Our theme verse comes from John 14:1--3 in which Jesus tells us that we can trust Him to come back and take us to a place specially prepared for us. Let me tell you that it is not easy teaching with a translator. By the time a sentence is spoken and then translated and feedback is made the train of thought can be lost or worse become a train wreck. Several times during my class with the Mexican teens I paused not knowing what to say next. Nevertheless, they were very gracious and attentive and responded to all my questions. I had three American teens with my class and they too did a terrific job in interacting and trying to follow me. The rest of our teens were involved in the three other classes going on at the same time and were very helpful. All have been doing a great job of interacting with the Mexican children.
Tomorrow starts our work groups and promises some new experiences. Please keep us in your prayers each day. I'll leave you with this question...When was the last time you prayed a big prayer thinking all along that maybe it is too muck to ask? Check out the verse below and let it strengthen you to trust in our amazing Father.

Eph 3:20-21 (NIV) Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.


Roger, over and out!

We Finally Made It

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Hey everyone, we finally made it to the City of Children Saturday afternoon. The trip from home to San Diego was quite the adventure. We flew out of Norfolk a few minutes late but made up time in the air. It was the leaving from Newark, NJ that did not seem to want to happen. We sat in the plane for over 90 minutes before we were allowed to take off due to severe weather (that was what they said) out west. When we finally took off we had to head for Atlanta and then go west to avoid the "severe weather" (wink...wink!) so our flight was longer than it was supposed to be. Boy, airline seats can sure get uncomfortable after several hours being cramped next to the window. We finally arrived in San Diego about an hour after our scheduled arrival time so all in all it was not too bad. One of our teens had a more trying time. Her flight was delayed in Norfolk and because of the tight layover schedule she was never going to make them. The airlines made arrangements for her to fly on another carrier but it was not going to fly out until 2 pm and she was not going to get to San Diego until 8 pm Thursday night. Everything went smoothly though and we got her to the hotel to join up with the rest of the gang.
The weather is warmer and more humid than I remember from past years and Stan Stout said the water temp is around 78 degrees instead of the typical 68 degrees so the cool breeze is not happening. But what is there to complain about. We got to fly over 3000 miles in less than half a day, stay the night in beautful San Diego, cross the border safely on Saturday without incident and have pizza with a bunch of Mexican teen Christians at the City of Children. GOD IS GOOD!

Paul told the Philippians to Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe 16 as you hold out the word of life (Phil 2:14-16) This is something that I can certainly work on in my life...how about you?


Roger, over and out!

Teen Mission Trip

Well, it's only a couple of more days and God willing our team from Denbigh will be in Mexico on the Baja Peninsula. We got a scare a few days ago when we heard it was well over 100 degrees but it looks like the temp is back down to normal. For those that do not know about the City of Children in Ensenada it is a refuge for Mexican children who have either been abused, abandoned, or neglected. Their stories are all sad but they now reside in a place that is filled with Christian love and acceptance. Every child’s future is changed for the better because of the dedication of the staff to meeting their needs physically, educationally, emotionally, and most of all SPIRITUALLY. This place is living out the life of Jesus and his love for children. Jesus said in Matthew 19:14 (NIV) "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."

Our plan is to meet up in San Diego with a group coming from Washington, Pennsylvania and another small group from Winchester, VA. on Friday. After spending the night in the Quality Inn we will head on down to Ensenada on Saturday and begin our mission to provide friendship, support and assistance both at the City of Children and the local churches. We will stay through the following Friday and then head back to the states and on home. It makes for an exhausting week but everyone who goes will have a memory to last a lifetime and will make a difference not only in the lives of those we come in contact with but also with one another.

Some questions for you to respond to...Have you ever gone on a mission trip? Why or why not? If so, how did it impact your life and relationship with God? Were there any scary moments for you while you were away from home? Would you consider going again?

Roger, over and out

Power of Intention

Who all have been tattooed or been tempted to get a tattoo? Of those who got one or two or three or more what prompted you to do it? Did you do it because you were looking for peace and joy? If not maybe you should have gone to Crystal Zen instead of where you got your body art from. I ran across the spam below while sifting through my old email address and thought I would share it with you.

"How do you imagine your life to be? Do you see yourself in peace and joy? We at Crystal Zen hope your life is filled with serenity, love and celebration. Our tattoos are specifically designed to offer your body spiritual healing and positive inspiration through the power of intention. These unique gifts slip easily into greeting cards for your friends or family."

The two questions at the beginning of the ad captured my attention and the nice sentiment that followed was good too. We all are looking for these experiences in life because we all have struggled and been miserable, discontented, apathetic and not in the mood to do anything worth celebrating. So maybe if a tattoo can bring me these things then maybe I ought to consider getting one...but then again maybe this is all about making a buck and they don't really care one way or the other about my life. I mean, come on, I received this message from Crystal Zen as spam mail and not from somebody who knows me and cares for me.

But I/we could all use some joy and peace and celebration in life. While the answer may not be in a tattoo parlor there is a place we can all go. Paul told the Christians in the city of Philippi the source of these things in his letter to them. Check out what he said.

Philippians 4:4-7 (NIV) Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

God is the source of these experiences because he is the one who created them in the first place. Rejoice (celebrate) in Him because He is the giver of PEACE!

Now, about that tattoo...

Roger, over and out!

Creature From The Black Lagoon

When I went home yesterday for lunch I took a few minutes to turn on the TV and do a little surfing. As I surfed I came to the AMC channel and noticed that they were showing some old movies (duh!) of the horror kind. The movie that was on was "Creature of the Black Lagoon." My how sensitivities have changed. What once was meant to be scary is now just campy because our taste for more is never satisfied. Everything needs to be bigger and better than it used to be...the movies we watch, the amusement park thrill rides we go on, our houses we purchase, the cars we drive, our incomes, our clothing and with it closet space to store them in, our TV's, etc. When will it ever stop, or does it need to? How does God want us to live in our culture of more and more?

I leave you to respond with the answer to that question. But just a reminder, the full answer is not to go back to the ways of old. In our musing we might be tempted to say...Ah...the good ole' days when everything was right with the world!!!? Times were not perfect then either. Soloman said...

Don't always be asking, "Where are the good old days?" Wise folks don't ask questions like that. Ecclesiastes 7:10 (MSG)

Let me know what you think on the subject...I'll be waiting.

Roger, over and out!

Grandpa Brown

Hey, I'm a gradpa! My middle son and his wife just had a baby on July 12 which just happens to be their wedding anninversery too. Ethan Thomas is a healthy 8 pound 14 ounce little boy who is probably the best looking baby ever born, at least by my standards. I hope to be able to go see him in person soon but in the meantime I will just have to settle for pictures. If there is anyone reading this blogg who has some friendly advice on being a good grandparent please respond.
God has blessed me with blessing upon blessing for I have lived to see Ethan Thomas Brown!

Psalms 128:5-6 (NIV) May the LORD bless you from Zion all the days of your life; may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem, and may you live to see your children's children.

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Hi everybody. I've just stepped into the world of blogging.